Panama: The Panama Canal Authority and a multinational construction consortium in charge of canal expansion agreed on a negotiation protocol. (Xinhua)

United States: President Obama disagreed with an independent watchdog group’s conclusion that the NSA’s phone records collection program is illegal. (WP)

Venezuela: President Maduro said the country would step up its “economic offensive”. (Xinhua)

ASIA

China: The air force dispatched another patrol to monitor its controversial air defense zone in the East China Sea and issued warnings to foreign military jets in the zone. (Reuters)

Korean Peninsula: South Korea’s Defense Ministry responded to the DPRK’s “open letter” with skepticism and called for supporting evidence. (Xinhua)

Philippines: Police arrested four men and seized USD30 million worth of methamphetamine. (AP)

Philippines: The government said that it is on the lookout for assassins supposedly sent by the Mexican-based Sinaloa drug cartel to silence two Canadians who were arrested this month in a raid in Manila. (Xinhua)

Thailand: The Constitutional Court ruled that a 02FEB election opposed by anti-government protesters can legally be delayed. (AP)

EUROPE

Region: Planned strikes by air traffic controllers in several European countries are expected to disrupt flights next week. (Xinhua)

France: The government summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to voice its “condemnation” of the government’s response to protests in Kiev. (AFP)

Italy: A small explosive device went off outside a French church in central Rome ahead of French President Hollande’s visit to the country. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: The IAEA called on member states to help pay for an increased inspector workload in the country. (Reuters)

Iran: FM Zarif said a reduced sentence for two Americans jailed in the country may be possible. (CNN)

Iraq: The UNHCR said more than 65,000 people have fled fighting in the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi during the past week. (Reuters)

Syria: Sources reported that rebel and regime representatives will not sit in the same room for the start of talks in Geneva. (AFP)

Yemen: A US drone struck a vehicle in the eastern province of Marib killing three al-Qaeda suspects. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: A cyberattack attributed to the Syrian Electronic Army gained access to CNN’s twitter feed and website. (Mashable)